I'll start now-hope to have it tillered in a few days...
Tip Overlay Raw
Rough Shaped
Redundant Handle Wood
3" Brace
I am now tillered to about 58# @ 26.5. That's three pounds over my target of 55# and I can live with it. I have not drawn the bow past this point and don't plan to.
I have about 1/4" positive tiller on the upper limb at the midpoint.
I have been drawing the bow a lot, incrementally as I tillered. Working each adjustment dozens of times. Sweated it at half-brace twice for six hours before final tiller. And I took about five hours today to get some weight down without overdrawing. 58# is the max the bow has been drawn to. For the last two tillering passes, I used #60 sandpaper and a block and got my rounding done at the same time.
I have a handle width of 1 1/8" at arrow pass. I may cut in a tiny shelf of 1/8" and extend that with leather, or maybe just add the leather to my handle wrap and live with the greater lack of centershot. I may also grind a slight detent for my hand web if I don't adjust to the relatively flat handle back.
This bow is heavier than I am used to, but that's what I wanted. I intend to work up to this weight in the next few weeks. I am used to the low fifties. I like the flatter flight of the faster arrow and this bow is fast.
How much weight will I lose as things settle in? I plan to sand again tomorrow w/ 120/150/180/220. Then some linseed as a base. I'll finish out with TruOil or Wipe-On poly.
Thanks again to all, especially to Pat. This is the beginning of a run of these things.
PD
